Minister of Immigration
Hon Tuariki Delamere

• POLICIES FOR PROGRESS INDEX
• PM WELCOMES PROGRESS ON IMMIGRATION
• POINTS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE MORE REALISTIC
• ENTREPRENEURS ENCOURAGED
• MAKING NEW ZEALAND A MORE ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION
• LANGUAGE TRAINING
• MORE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE ACCEPTED
• STUDENT POLICY
• TOURISM AND TRADE
• BUSINESS INVESTORS

The bond, which applies to non principal residence applicants in the General Skills and Business Investor categories, is being replaced with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition, pre-purchased by migrants through the Education and Training Support Agency as part of the residence application process. Those who pre-purchase an appropriate level of ESOL training will no longer be asked to sit an English language test as part of their application.

The Minister of Immigration, Hon Tuariki Delamere, said that the English language bond, introduced in 1995, was meant to act as an incentive to motivate non-English speaking migrants to seek training within the first few months of arriving in New Zealand. Instead it has stopped families applying for residence altogether.

"Many of the people who qualify under the General Skills category for residency could come to New Zealand and contribute to the community and economy but can't afford a $20,000 bond for their partners or dependents. However, they could afford English language training once they arrive here," he said.

Under existing policy, the principal applicant for residence must meet prescribed English language requirements. However, others seeking residence on the same application who are aged 16 and over do not need to meet these requirements but must pay a $20,000 bond. The entire bond is refunded if these non-principal applicants pass the English language skills requirement within three months of arriving in New Zealand. Part of the bond is refunded if they pass within a year. People who do not pass the English language requirement within 12 months forfeit their bond entirely.

The bond also isn't necessarily helping migrants to learn to speak English once they have arrived in the country. As at 30 September 1998, of the 184 migrants who paid the bond in 1996/97, 101 had forfeited the entire bond and are yet to pass their test before the expiry of the twelve month refund period.

"Pre-purchasing ESOL is a much better system than the bond because people will be buying English language training. It also takes a more realistic view of the timeframes that migrants need to adjust to living in New Zealand and improving their language skills," Mr Delamere said.

The cost of purchasing ESOL training for people who fail to reach the required levels of the International English Language Testing System is between $1,700 and $6,650 depending on competency levels.

Migrants will have up to three years to use the training if payment is made in New Zealand and up to three-and-a-half years if it is paid offshore. If migrants do not complete their training in this time their pre-payment will be forfeited to the Crown.

The change to the policy will take place from 30 November 1998.